Record Highs Remain in Play

U.S. markets traded in a tighter range on Friday while pushing record highs and fresh resistance despite worries over a government shutdown. The Russell 2000 showed the most strength after rising 1.3% but failed the 1,600 level and its all-time high by 7 points. However, the close north of 1,597 and 0.3% weekly pop represented the third-straight week of gains and 8th record closing high of 2018.

The Nasdaq advanced 0.6% after closing at a record high of 7,336 to extend its weekly win streak to 3-straight. The index closed higher for the fifth time in six weeks after rising 1%

The Dow climbed 0.2% while holding the 26,000 level but fell shy of its lifetime high of 26,153 set the prior session by 82 points. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to finish at a fresh record close and all-time high of 2,810. Both indexes also clinched their third-straight weekly advance and have traded higher in 8 of the past 9 weeks.